Talking Geopolitics Hezbollah's End Game: Hilal Khashan Reporting from Lebanon
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Mar 11, 2026 Hilal Khashan, senior analyst and professor reporting from Lebanon, offers on-the-ground insight into rising violence. He discusses the clash between Hezbollah and Israel, the group’s heavy losses and martyrdom logic, Lebanese political pressure for disarmament, and the wider regional consequences of an Iran-linked conflict.
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Israel's Endgame Is Hezbollah's Elimination
- Israel's explicit wartime objective is to finish off Hezbollah militarily and politically.
- Hilal Khashan says the Lebanese army won't disarm Hezbollah because one-third of troops are Shiites and a purge risks splintering the army as in 1976 and 1984.
Hezbollah Fought Because It Felt It Had No Future In Restraint
- Hezbollah chose to open a front because prolonged Israeli strikes made continued restraint meaningless.
- Khashan notes Israel killed hundreds of Hezbollah members since November 2024 and Nasrallah's assassination mindset pushed Hezbollah to 'die standing'.
Destroying Hezbollah's Army Would Collapse Its Political Power
- Israel's plan goes beyond military defeat to dismantle Hezbollah's political power in Lebanon.
- Khashan explains Hezbollah's political dominance relies on its armed wing and losing that force would render its parliamentary bloc ineffective.